Ford's Auto Start-Stop System Starts to Expand

According to Ford, the engine start-stop system is one of the most popular features among owners of Ford hybrid vehicles. The feature shuts off the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop at traffic lights or in stop-go traffic, and automatically restarts the engine as soon as the driver takes their foot off the brake pedal.

Ford has announced that its patented Auto Start-Stop system will soon become available on conventional non-hybrid cars, crossovers and SUVs in 2012. The system is already installed on some Ford cars in Europe and has proven to be effective at improving fuel economy by at least 4 percent for most drivers. Some have even seen a 10 percent improvement.

The system includes a bigger battery and enhanced starter motor along with the electronics to control the system. The heater or air conditioning systems still operate while the engine is off in order to maintain the desired cabin temperature.

Ford says the EcoBoost engine is one of the technologies that enables the Auto Start-Stop system to work seamlessly. The direct-injection fuel system, which sprays the exact amount of fuel directly into the precise location in the combustion chamber, helps enable extremely fast engine starts.